In wake of the recent outrage surrounding the painting of an elephant named Chanchal in Jaipur for a photoshoot made by Julia Buruleva, World Animal Protection has taken a grim view of the entire sequence of events that has led to this most unfortunate display of animal cruelty in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Jaipur in Rajasthan. This incident, yet again highlights the rampant abuse of captive elephants in Jaipur in Amer Fort and Haathi Gaon to cater to tourist whims and fancies. There is no excuse to paint an elephant for a photoshoot because this denigrates the natural state of the animal. The incident also shows glaring loopholes in administrative abilities in caring for the captive elephants in Jaipur that are already under extreme stress and pain due to their totally unnatural incarceration and daily abuse due to rides and continual interaction with tourists, including foreign tourists like the one who has caused the cruelty that has justifiably enraged people from all walks of people who care for India’s National Heritage Animal.
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Painted elephant in Amer Fort in Jaipur Photo credit Julia Buruleva/ Brut India
Although it appears that the shoot took place late last year in December, 2025, it bears questioning how this photo shoot was approved by the Rajasthan Forest Department for a Schedule I animal that is accorded the highest level of protection under India’s Wildlife Protection Act. This incident really brings to light the inadequacies in implementation of both moral and legal principles when it comes to protecting captive elephants in India. There is the cardinal issue of the stocking of captive elephant populations by dubious means and recently the arrest of an elephant trafficker in Jaipur who was attempting to smuggle an elephant from Assam clearly shows that the trade in live elephants is alive and well. The latest amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act with regard to transactions in captive elephants also leaves the law open to misuse. “It is of cardinal importance that the Ministry Of Environment and Forests, Project Elephant and the Rajasthan Forest Department regulate the nature of all tourist activities with captive elephants in Jaipur, including foreign tourists, to ensure that abusive activities toward captive elephants do not take place,” says Gajender Kumar Sharma, Country Director of World Animal Protection in India.
Earlier this month, the Rajasthan government has informed the Rajasthan High Court that it was taking steps to ensure the welfare of captive elephants at Amer Fort. “Apart from interim welfare steps, it is necessary to take concrete steps, long overdue, to initiate the process of phasing out elephant rides in Amer Fort altogether, and retire the remaining elephants in a sanctuary,” says Gajender Kumar Sharma, Country Director, World Animal Protection in India.
World Animal Protection in India is raising awareness among tour companies to not offer elephant rides in places like Jaipur. The latest companies that have taken the wildlife friendly pledge of World Animal Protection to not promote elephant rides and wild animals in entertainment include UnBound Expeditions, Going Wild Tours, Hetalbon Resort, Wild Paw Adventures and NorthEast Travels. These companies can encourage tourists not to undertake activities like Julia Buruleva has done to exploit captive animals.
It has been reported that the elephant who was coloured, named Chanchal, died in February, 2026. In the wake of this incident, there is every reason to reascertain the cause of her death.
World Animal Protection has also noted the capture of four allegedly wolf dog hybrid puppies in Kadbanwadi area of Indapur tehsil in Pune district. World Animal Protection strongly emphasises that these animals should be treated humanely regardless of their genetic makeup. There is very sophisticated scientific evidence with World Animal Protection that establishes the importance of scientific and respectful treatment of hybrid animals and it is emphasised that the Maharashtra Forest Department apply the precautionary principle and ensure humane treatment of these puppies.
World Animal Protection also advocates a cautionary approach to the Neelgai domestication project that has been reported in the media in Bihar Agricultural University (BAU)’s Veer Kunwar Singh College of Agriculture. The captive animals that are part of this initiative should be treated humanely and this project should not lead to commercialisation of wild animals for short term profits.
Today is Mahavir Jayanti. On this occasion, the message of ahimsa(non violence) as the ultimate virtue needs to be restated with respect to our relationship with all animals under the current circumstances.
Wild animals are not entertainment. Wild animals are not meant for captivity displays where they need to be coloured as props to fulfil vanity wishes. Elephants live in the wild, where they socialise with their kin and form family bonds like humans. Elephants belong in the wild. There is no pride in colouring or riding an elephant. Wildlife belongs in the wild.
For more information please contact : Gajender Kumar Sharma
Email : gajenderksharma@worldanimalprotection.org.in.
Phone : 93133332823
